Unfortunate Attempt To Remove A Dent - What Now?

abby wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I made a error and could use some opinions.
> A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick. The water
> and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to fill it or leave it
> so I sanded down around it. Now I have a shallow dish at most 1/32"
> deep and about 2" x 3" in my table top. It isn't noticeable but you can
> feel it if you run your hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit
> properly on it. I wish I'd left the nick in there.
> Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to make it less
> apparent, or sand down the entire table top? All I have is an
> inexpensive pad sander. The table top is a soft pine with knots.
> Previous attempts to hand plane this wood were not good.
> Thanks,
> Gary
>
How big is this table top, and how thick is it? Asking because maybe
you could take it to someone with a LARGE wide-belt sander and sand the
entire top flat again.

Wayne

"abby" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| Hi,
|
| I made a error and could use some opinions.
|
| A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick.
| The water and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to
| fill it or leave it so I sanded down around it. Now I have a
| shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and about 2" x 3" in my
| table top. It isn't noticeable but you can feel it if you run your
| hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit properly on it.
| I wish I'd left the nick in there.
|
| Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to
| make it less apparent, or sand down the entire table top?
| All I have is an inexpensive pad sander. The table top is a
| soft pine with knots. Previous attempts to hand plane this
| wood were not good.

First, I'd think about flipping the top over and using the bottom.

Second, I'd plane the entire top down to flat and sand, or worst case sand
the entire top down to level. If you completely sand the top use a long
sanding block and 40-60 grit paper to do the initial leveling and then work
up through finer grades.

Third, cut a large knot out of another piece of pine, inlet it into the
depressed area, dress to flat.

Forth, turn back time and repeatedly steam the dent to raise it. I use a wet
wash cloth and a clothes iron in situations like this. It is rare that I
cannot get a dent to raise completely through repeated applications of
steam.

Fifth, turn back time and place the top so it cannot fall over. ;~)

John

"abby" wrote:

| A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick.
| The water and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to
| fill it or leave it so I sanded down around it. Now I have a
> | shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and about 2" x 3" in my
> | table top.

Two choices:

1) Flip it over and use bottom for the top.

2) Take it to a drum sanding shop

They can sand it flat in no time, probably removing less than 3/64"
unless it is really screwed up.

Have fun.

Lew

"abby" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| Hi,
|
| I made a error and could use some opinions.
|
| A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick.
| The water and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to
| fill it or leave it so I sanded down around it. Now I have a
| shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and about 2" x 3" in my
| table top. It isn't noticeable but you can feel it if you run your
| hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit properly on it.
| I wish I'd left the nick in there.

I should add a 2 1/2 to my list of 5... replace the problem board by ripping
the top on the table saw, jointing the cut edges, and gluing it up with a
new board in place. You might want to take a quarter inch off each end and
reshape the edges rather than try to blend the new board into the existing
ones.

...another tip based on experience with severe damage to a project underway.

John

Have you given thought to cutting in a dutchman from a scrap piece of the
same wood with some closely matching grain pattern?
Then finish is as you had planned. I've seen some little dutchman jig kits
with varying patterns (bow tie, square etc.)you can use with a router but
can't remember where right now. Maybe a Rockler catalog or Veritas? Don't
remember.


"abby" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I made a error and could use some opinions.
> A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick. The water
> and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to fill it or leave it so
> I sanded down around it. Now I have a shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and
> about 2" x 3" in my table top. It isn't noticeable but you can feel it if
> you run your hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit properly on
> it. I wish I'd left the nick in there.
> Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to make it less
> apparent, or sand down the entire table top? All I have is an inexpensive
> pad sander. The table top is a soft pine with knots. Previous attempts
> to hand plane this wood were not good.
> Thanks,
> Gary
>

I know it must be a typo but............ $8 USD is not much to spend on
simulations.
"abby" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:c9e85cf1-d6b4-4cad-95a8-5c06b6e329a9@c23g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 22, 2:43 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> 3) "Did you know that all the windshields on Ferarri TestaRossas are a
>> little bit different?" "It's because they're hand-made and each one is
>> fitted custom."
>
> But that was a long time ago. The History or Discovery Channel has a
> documentary on the Ferrari plant. Their design and manufacturing
> facilities are even more impressive than their cars - ultra-modern,
> computerized, and the latest in automation mixed with skilled
> craftsmanship.
> One of their buildings has growing trees inside to freshen the air and
> enhance the work environment. If you ever get a chance the program is
> well worth seeing. Reportedly, Ferrari spent $8USD in computer
> simulations to optimized the sound of the 360's exhaust. If you've
> never heard a 360 the sound it makes is magnificent.
>
> Gary
>

On Jan 22, 1:07=A0am, "abby" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to
> make it less apparent, or sand down the entire table top? =A0
> All I have is an inexpensive pad sander. =A0The table top is a
> soft pine with knots. =A0Previous attempts to hand plane this
> wood were not good.

Hello, Gary. If it were me, I would leave it. You are now in the
twilight zone of the more you screw with it the worse it will get.
You could have filled the little nick pretty easily with some kind of
thick CA or epoxy, but you can't fill a larger divot.

And believe me, if you are trying to get an even surface on knotty
pine with anything other than a belt sander, you are batting up short
flies. If you try to sand down that whole top to flat, your little
pad sander will eat away the soft wood around those knots and every
one will protrude. (Had to make that mistake myself a few years ago.)

If you are worried about someone seeing it and commenting, don't. It
is probable that no one will see it if you leave it (except you). And
of course.you could always do the professional thing (ahem...) and
blame it on today's crappy materials. Damn those vendors!

Finish up your table and on to the next project.

YMMV. My 0.02 may be worth exactly that.

Robert

On Jan 22, 7:07 am, "abby" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I made a error and could use some opinions.
>
> A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick.
> The water and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to
> fill it or leave it so I sanded down around it. Now I have a
> shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and about 2" x 3" in my
> table top. It isn't noticeable but you can feel it if you run your
> hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit properly on it.
> I wish I'd left the nick in there.
>
> Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to
> make it less apparent, or sand down the entire table top?
> All I have is an inexpensive pad sander. The table top is a
> soft pine with knots. Previous attempts to hand plane this
> wood were not good.
>

You can inlay something in that spot, maybe even a contrasting
wood or a very large knot. How about a nameplate:
"This table made by John Doe, January , 2008."

Shellac is a good first coat for pine. You could build up the
spot with several coats of clear shellac and then level
it, perhaps with that hand plane set for very very thin
shavings, the kind that float up and collect on the ceiling,
then give the whole table a once over with shellac and
follow with your topcoat.

Or you could do what the garage door manufacturer did
with the hole they punched on the inside of the door my
father bought from them--cover it with a decal that says:
"Inspected by number 23".

--

FF

On Jan 27, 12:31=A0pm, "abby" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:c9e85cf1-d6b4-4cad-95a8-5c06b6e329a9@c23g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 22, 2:43 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> > 3) "Did you know that all the windshields on Ferarri TestaRossas are
> > a
> > little bit different?" "It's because they're hand-made and each one
> > is
> > fitted custom."
>
> But that was a long time ago. =A0The History or Discovery Channel has a
> documentary on the Ferrari plant. =A0Their design and manufacturing
> facilities are even more impressive than their cars - ultra-modern,
> computerized, and the latest in automation mixed with skilled
> craftsmanship.
> One of their buildings has growing trees inside to freshen the air and
> enhance the work environment. =A0If you ever get a chance the program is
> well worth seeing. =A0Reportedly, Ferrari spent $8USD in computer
> simulations to optimized the sound of the 360's exhaust. =A0If you've
> never heard a 360 the sound it makes is magnificent.
>
> Gary

Like the sound one makes when passing gas after drinking a lot of
absinthe?
You know.."Absinth makes farts go Honda?"

Look, put down that weapon...I didn't make it up.. just passing it
along...

"Doug Brown" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I know it must be a typo but............ $8 USD is not much to spend
> on simulations.

Maybe it's an average of $8 per car?

Puckdropper
--
Marching to the beat of a different drum is great... unless you're in
marching band.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Tanus <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:

> Robatoy wrote:
>> On Jan 27, 12:31 pm, "abby" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> "Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>
>>> news:[email protected]
>>> m... On Jan 22, 2:43 am, "[email protected]"
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> 3) "Did you know that all the windshields on Ferarri TestaRossas
>>>> are a
>>>> little bit different?" "It's because they're hand-made and each one
>>>> is
>>>> fitted custom."
>>> But that was a long time ago. The History or Discovery Channel has
>>> a documentary on the Ferrari plant. Their design and manufacturing
>>> facilities are even more impressive than their cars - ultra-modern,
>>> computerized, and the latest in automation mixed with skilled
>>> craftsmanship.
>>> One of their buildings has growing trees inside to freshen the air
>>> and enhance the work environment. If you ever get a chance the
>>> program is well worth seeing. Reportedly, Ferrari spent $8USD in
>>> computer simulations to optimized the sound of the 360's exhaust.
>>> If you've never heard a 360 the sound it makes is magnificent.
>>>
>>> Gary
>>
>> Like the sound one makes when passing gas after drinking a lot of
>> absinthe?
>> You know.."Absinth makes farts go Honda?"
>>
>> Look, put down that weapon...I didn't make it up.. just passing it
>> along...
>
> OMFG.
>
> I'ma gonna copy that and print it for
> SWMBO to prove that I"m not even close
> to being the worst.
>

I had the same idea!

Robotoy, for punishment you are to spend 30 seconds reading Vogon poetry.

Puckdropper
--
Marching to the beat of a different drum is great... unless you're in
marching band.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Puckdropper <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Tanus <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:
>
>> Robatoy wrote:
>>>
>>> Like the sound one makes when passing gas after drinking a lot of
>>> absinthe?
>>> You know.."Absinth makes farts go Honda?"
>>>
>>> Look, put down that weapon...I didn't make it up.. just passing it
>>> along...
>>
>> OMFG.
>>
>> I'ma gonna copy that and print it for
>> SWMBO to prove that I"m not even close
>> to being the worst.
>>
>
> I had the same idea!
>
> Robotoy, for punishment you are to spend 30 seconds reading Vogon
> poetry.
>
> Puckdropper

Ahem... Robatoy.

Puckdropper
--
Marching to the beat of a different drum is great... unless you're in
marching band.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

"abby" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I made a error and could use some opinions.
> A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick. The water
> and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to fill it or leave it so
> I sanded down around it. Now I have a shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and
> about 2" x 3" in my table top. It isn't noticeable but you can feel it if
> you run your hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit properly on
> it. I wish I'd left the nick in there.
> Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to make it less
> apparent, or sand down the entire table top? All I have is an inexpensive
> pad sander. The table top is a soft pine with knots. Previous attempts
> to hand plane this wood were not good.
> Thanks,
> Gary
>

How does the bottom look?

Printed and posted on the shop wall. Thanks Rob!!!

jc


1) "Of course it has a somewhat random surface, after all, wood is
very organic and always alive in it's beauty."

2) "A handcrafted top will never look like it was machine made. If I
wanted that look, I would have used laminated particle board."

3) "Did you know that all the windshields on Ferarri TestaRossas are a
little bit different?" "It's because they're hand-made and each one is
fitted custom."

4) "Each of the 11 Sunflower paintings by Van Gogh is different. Of
course he could have silk-screened a batch of them..."

5) "This is referred to by the artisans as 'character'."

6) "It's the equivalent of a crop circle. We don't talk about those
much."

On Jan 22, 2:07 am, "abby" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I made a error and could use some opinions.
>
> A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick.
> The water and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to
> fill it or leave it so I sanded down around it. Now I have a
> shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and about 2" x 3" in my
> table top. It isn't noticeable but you can feel it if you run your
> hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit properly on it.
> I wish I'd left the nick in there.
>
> Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to
> make it less apparent, or sand down the entire table top?
> All I have is an inexpensive pad sander. The table top is a
> soft pine with knots. Previous attempts to hand plane this
> wood were not good.
>
> Thanks,
> Gary

Sand the divot to 200 and finish it. It's proof the table
was made by a human. Now distress it by having
your girlfriend walk across it with a pair of high heels.

To quickly remove tiny nicks, apply a couple of drops
of superglue and sand until dry. Repeat until the repair
is flush, invisible. Spot might be slightly darker.

> Reportedly, Ferrari spent $8USD in computer
> simulations to optimized the sound of the 360's exhaust. If you've
> never heard a 360 the sound it makes is magnificent.

Oops!! That should be $8 million USD for simulations.

Gary

"Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:c9e85cf1-d6b4-4cad-95a8-5c06b6e329a9@c23g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
On Jan 22, 2:43 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:

> 3) "Did you know that all the windshields on Ferarri TestaRossas are
> a
> little bit different?" "It's because they're hand-made and each one
> is
> fitted custom."

But that was a long time ago. The History or Discovery Channel has a
documentary on the Ferrari plant. Their design and manufacturing
facilities are even more impressive than their cars - ultra-modern,
computerized, and the latest in automation mixed with skilled
craftsmanship.
One of their buildings has growing trees inside to freshen the air and
enhance the work environment. If you ever get a chance the program is
well worth seeing. Reportedly, Ferrari spent $8USD in computer
simulations to optimized the sound of the 360's exhaust. If you've
never heard a 360 the sound it makes is magnificent.

Gary

On Jan 22, 2:43=A0am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
> If you are worried about someone seeing it and commenting, don't. =A0It
> is probable that no one will see it if you leave it (except you). =A0And
> of course.you could always do the professional thing (ahem...) and
> blame it on today's crappy materials. =A0Damn those vendors!
>

1) "Of course it has a somewhat random surface, after all, wood is
very organic and always alive in it's beauty."

2) "A handcrafted top will never look like it was machine made. If I
wanted that look, I would have used laminated particle board."

3) "Did you know that all the windshields on Ferarri TestaRossas are a
little bit different?" "It's because they're hand-made and each one is
fitted custom."

4) "Each of the 11 Sunflower paintings by Van Gogh is different. Of
course he could have silk-screened a batch of them..."

5) "This is referred to by the artisans as 'character'."

6) "It's the equivalent of a crop circle. We don't talk about those
much."

abby wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I made a error and could use some opinions.
>
> A table top under construction fell over and got a tiny nick.
> The water and heat trick didn't remove it. I didn't want to
> fill it or leave it so I sanded down around it. Now I have a
> shallow dish at most 1/32" deep and about 2" x 3" in my
> table top. It isn't noticeable but you can feel it if you run your
> hand over it. Also, a glass or cup will not sit properly on it.
> I wish I'd left the nick in there.
>
> Would you leave it, sand down the area around the dish to
> make it less apparent, or sand down the entire table top?
> All I have is an inexpensive pad sander. The table top is a
> soft pine with knots. Previous attempts to hand plane this
> wood were not good.

There are a couple of possibilities.

If it's in a "convenient" location for doing so, you might drill it
and put in a raised plug that you then sand down flush. Do the same
at three other symmetrically located positions and use a contrasting
color wood and it becomes a "feature".

Another possibility would be to put one of the high build
self-levelling pourable bar finishes on it. That will give you a
level, very durable surface but you might not like the look and the
stuff's not cheap. http://www.epoxyproducts.com/bartop.html has a
good description of that manufacturer's product and the application
procedures (the web site design is horrible though).

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Robatoy wrote:
> On Jan 27, 12:31 pm, "abby" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> "Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>
>> news:c9e85cf1-d6b4-4cad-95a8-5c06b6e329a9@c23g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>> On Jan 22, 2:43 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> 3) "Did you know that all the windshields on Ferarri TestaRossas are
>>> a
>>> little bit different?" "It's because they're hand-made and each one
>>> is
>>> fitted custom."
>> But that was a long time ago. The History or Discovery Channel has a
>> documentary on the Ferrari plant. Their design and manufacturing
>> facilities are even more impressive than their cars - ultra-modern,
>> computerized, and the latest in automation mixed with skilled
>> craftsmanship.
>> One of their buildings has growing trees inside to freshen the air and
>> enhance the work environment. If you ever get a chance the program is
>> well worth seeing. Reportedly, Ferrari spent $8USD in computer
>> simulations to optimized the sound of the 360's exhaust. If you've
>> never heard a 360 the sound it makes is magnificent.
>>
>> Gary
>
> Like the sound one makes when passing gas after drinking a lot of
> absinthe?
> You know.."Absinth makes farts go Honda?"
>
> Look, put down that weapon...I didn't make it up.. just passing it
> along...

OMFG.

I'ma gonna copy that and print it for
SWMBO to prove that I"m not even close
to being the worst.

--
Tanus

This is not really a sig.

http://www.home.mycybernet.net/~waugh/shop/

> Now distress it by having
>your girlfriend walk across it with a pair of high heels.

My girlfriend resembles that remark.

>To quickly remove tiny nicks, apply a couple of drops
>of superglue and sand until dry. Repeat until the repair
>is flush, invisible. Spot might be slightly darker.

THat exactly what she does. I'll vouch for the spots being darker.

T.E. Stosterone

>Or you could do what the garage door manufacturer did
>with the hole they punched on the inside of the door my
>father bought from them--cover it with a decal that says:
>"Inspected by number 23".

HA! One of my first jobs was finishing interiors in mobile homes...
not trailers, the kind you drive around in. The interior walls were
made of synthetic wallboards.... like formica or something. When
somebody dinged up a wall, we covered the dings with those little
pastic and wood "cookies" or "rosettes". And then stood back and put
some more up to compliment the pattern.

Like it fooled anybody.

-Zz